Angels acquire pitcher Hanson from Braves

The Angels added Tommy Hanson of the Braves to their rotation, sending Jordan Walden to Atlanta. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tommy Hanson’s injuries in 2011 showed up in his numbers in 2012, but the Angels are hoping that both will be distant memories in 2013 and beyond.

The Angels acquired Hanson from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for one-time All-Star reliever Jordan Walden on Friday, filling one of the gaping holes in the rotation.

Hanson could turn out to be a steal if he reverses the trend line of his career. After posting a 3.28 ERA in the first three seasons of his career, he had a 4.48 ERA in 2012.Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto doesn’t see it that way, though.

“I don’t know that we’re necessarily looking for a bounce back,” Dipoto said. “Tommy is going to be 26 and coming off 175 innings where he won 13 games. I don’t think it would be fair to call it a disappointing season.

“It might not stack up, rate-wise, with some of his other seasons, but his velocity stacked up, month to month. Our scouting report showed he featured two above-average breaking balls, and as a general rule, misses bats. The quality of what he brings to the table is noted. He’s done it for four years at the big league level.”

Hanson conceded, however, that his performance last season wasn’t up to the standard he set for himself in the first few years after he reached the majors as one of the most highly rated prospects in the game. Hanson had shoulder and back troubles in the second half of 2011, and that affected him into the winter.

“I think I was more worried about staying healthy that offseason and I felt like I was a little bit tired down the stretch after the All-Star break (in 2012),” Hanson said. “After that I didn’t feel like I was as strong as I needed to be, so I had to tweak my offseason program.”

Now, Hanson said, “everything feels really good.”

He added that he is “super excited” to play for the Angels, whom he rooted for when he was growing up in Redlands. He pitched at Redlands East Valley High and Riverside Community College. The Angels have now picked up two Southern California natives in a week, including free agent reliever Ryan Madson.

The Madson deal actually opened the door for the Angels to get Hanson. Adding Madson to the bullpen pushed Walden further down the depth chart, making him expendable.

Walden, 25, had 32 saves and a 2.98 ERA in 2011, when he made the All-Star Game as a rookie, but he battled injuries last season and slipped. His ERA rose to 3.46 and Kevin Jepsen and Ernesto Frieri both moved ahead of him.

The Braves, who were looking to give an opportunity to top prospects Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado, created space in the rotation and the payroll. Hanson, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time, is due to make around $4 million.

That’s a small price to the pay for the Angels, though, who needed at least two starters to fit in a rotation with Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Garrett Richards. Hanson will not be eligible for free agency until after 2015.

The Angels remain in the mix for Zack Greinke, although the Dodgers and Texas Rangers are considered the front-runners at this point, and they have also shown interest in Ryan Dempster.

NOTES

Dipoto said the Angels would offer arbitration before Friday night’s deadline to their other four eligible players: Alberto Callaspo, Kendrys Morales, Jerome Williams and Jepsen…

The Angels claimed outfielder Scott Cousins on waivers from the Seattle Mariners. Cousins, who turns 28 in January, has a .183 average in parts of three seasons with the Marlins, but he’s best known for being the player who broke San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey’s ankle in a home-plate collision in 2011. Cousins had already been with the Marlins, Blue Jays and Mariners this winter. Cousins has an option left in 2013, so the Angels can keep him in the minors if he doesn’t win a job in the majors. He hits left-handed and plays all three outfield positions.

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